Calum's PoV

Dave had walked in proudly waving a recorder in his hands. Everyone else was excited to listen to it but I wasn't. I dreaded the thought of hearing Poppy telling the pap about me and what I'd been like to her, probably all true but putting me in a bad light. However, I also dreaded hearing her say nothing about me when I've been acting like an asshole to her all day. I wasn't going to win either way.

"Who wants to hear what she said?" Dave said excitedly like he was rallying an audience at a circus. The others began clapping and cheering, more than likely because they knew I'd finally have the proof I needed but didn't want.

"Yeah come on!" Ashton said happily, leaning forwards as if he was ready to listen in.

"No thanks." I spoke up, silencing the room and excitement quickly.

"What? Why?" Luke asked me, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"He's probably scared of what he's about to hear." Michael said honestly, hitting the nail on the head like these men always managed to do. "He's either been acting like a moron and she's never said a word, or someone he liked and trusted has actually sold him out for money."

"No." I said defiantly, but hesitated. "Maybe... yes? I don't know!" I sighed, sinking into the bed more. Dave places his hand on my shoulder.

"Cal, I've spoken to her. She warned me about this device when i pulled Stacey out of the toilets. She told me to bring it in here for everyone to hear. I've got a feeling it's going to be good news." Dave said truthfully, just like everyone else. That's what I was worried about though. I'd shown her up in front of everyone when really she was just being sweet and caring to me.

"The minute she got my number she was texting me that I was on tv and had been found out. Coincidence?" I tried to argue back, but the truth was that was actually the only thing I had against her. Circumstantial.

"Look, lets just listen to it. We're wasting Mavis's time." Michael ordered, nodding over to Mavis who we'd all forgotten had been sitting quietly in the corner. Dave pressed play and held it out for all of us to hear.

"I can't believe Calum has made you this irate!" Stacey's voice had rung out through the room. The quality of the tape left a lot to be desired, it crackled and rustled with her every movement. Stacey had been a problem of ours for a long time. She was always trying to get stories but always failed to succeed with them. She'd been given restraining orders against some of us but that didn't stop her, she really was ruthless.

"He hasn't at all, it's you. I came in to the staff bathrooms and you're hiding out in here pestering people. Isn't that illegal?" Poppy's voice was next, sounding angry at this person she didn't know interrogating her. She stuck up for me too, saying I hadn't made her angry despite that being the exact reason why she'd even gone in the bathrooms. God, I felt like a dick.

"Has it been difficult for you since he was found out to be in here?" Stacey questioned more. I tensed in the bed, just wishing I could have been there to stop this before it got too far.

"No comment." Poppy replied back instantly.

"I've heard he's been treating the staff awfully since. Is this true?" Stacey asked yet another another question. I went to argue, but realised everyone was too engrossed in the recording so I thought I'd keep it till the end.

"No comment." Poppy repeated professionally.

"Is it true you and he are secretly an item?" Stacey asked and you could hear Poppy snigger in the background. I tutted loudly, agitated at the fact Stacey always pressed for relationship news that's wasn't there. It was honestly unbelievable.

"Look, miss, record all you want out of this. Calum is a patient, I am a nurse. I am here to look after him and I adhere to the data protection and information governance rules set in place by this hospital. I will not discuss my patients at all with you, if you want any information I suggest you ask our freedom of information governor and the communications team." Poppy said at Stacey, putting her in her place instantly. The room fell silent and we could make out some background noise from the recording.

"Poppy?" Mavis called out. "Is everything okay? Can I come in?" Poppy let out a large sigh of relief.

"Sure but there's a visitor in here." She warned everyone before they opened the door. Something mumbled was said afterwards that we couldn't work out.

"Oh, that must have been when I spoke to Dave. I told him I was glad he came." Mavis said quickly. Dave nodded in agreement. We heard the door open and Dave's booming voice.

"You again?!"

"She's recording everything, please be careful." Poppy warned Dave as he dragged Stacey away.

Dave turned the recording off. "That's all, the rest will just be me scolding her again." I looked over to everyone else who was smiling happily at me, as if to say that the proof was there. She was a legitimate woman and nurse. She had no intention of selling my story and even lied to stick up for me - yet I'd shouted at her and been difficult this whole shift. It was now almost one in the morning. For five hours I'd been snappy, unhelpful and rude.

"I feel like a complete idiot." I finally voiced, sighing heavily. I rubbed my hands over my hair in frustration. The others offered me sympathetic looks but the room remained silent, quiet enough for me to feel like everyone agreed with me.

"If I may..." Mavis spoke up as she stood from the corner. "And I hope you don't think I'm speaking out of turn but-" she hesitated, quickly checking out of the window to see if Poppy was close by. "Poppy is a strong girl and as much as what you did upset her, she'll understand if you apologise. She knew why you were being like that - what upset her more was that she wasn't believed. Now she's given you proof. Just speak to her, it'll fix itself." Mavis spoke like a true agony aunt, knowing exactly what I wanted to hear. I didn't say anything, but just smiled and nodded as she made her way out of the room. She stopped by the door and turned around quickly. "I'd give them some privacy too." She ordered before leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.

"I need to stretch my legs." Luke said, standing up and stretching.

"Me too." Michael agreed.

"And me!" Ashton added. Dave let out a laugh before adding his comments too.

"You'll need someone with you just in case." And with that, all four of them left the room seconds before Poppy walked in, her demeanour a lot more reserved than before. I had a lot of apologising to do.